PEOPLE and organisations who have made “brilliant” contributions to the Chippenham community are set to receive civic awards.

They will be presented by the town’s new Mayor Councillor Liz Alstom at a special ceremony on Civic Sunday, July 17.

A town council spokeswoman said: “Congratulations to the following people and organisations for their brilliant contribution to the local community and to the town.”

One of the winners, Laura Graham May, the artistic director of Rag & Bone Arts, said she was "surprised and delighted" to win an award.

Ms May, 51, who also works for the Chippenham Borough Lands Charity, said: "I am over the moon, surprised and delighted and strangely moved."

The civic awards citation said: "Laura works tirelessly to support the growth and development of the arts and youth organisations in the Chippenham area through her own charitable theatre group Rag and Bone Arts or her role at the Chippenham Borough Lands Charity.

"Rag and Bone Arts seeks support from national providers to enable low cost to residents of Chippenham, engaging with youth providers or with Laura delivering sessions herself."

Other winners are:

• Chippenham Hospital Radio: operating within the town since the 1980s, Chippenham Hospital Radio not only provides great comfort and joy to the patients and staff of the hospital but also has a vested interest in the town with local community information and programming which can be accessed by listening online.

• Splash Wiltshire: providing free to access youth support for those aged nine to 16 facing challenges in their lives, Splash originally started in Chippenham but has grown to support young people in other towns in Wiltshire. The friendly team provides one to one support, coaching, mentoring, and help to develop confidence in the young people they support, which leads to group activities at weekends and school holidays.

• Rise Trust Mentor Me Volunteers: started in 2013, the Rise Trust Mentor Me Volunteers provides school mentors to 10 primary schools in Chippenham. The volunteers offer support to children referred to the service via weekly term time sessions, aiming to build a trusting and respectful relationship.

• Tracey Smith: Tracey started volunteering at weekends for the Rise Trust Contact Centre in 2012. The contact centre is a safe, friendly, and neutral place where children of separated families can spend time with one or both parents. It operates two Saturdays every month, all year round. For over nearly 10 years, Tracey has given her time regularly to support contact between children and their non-resident parent. Tracey has proved to be a listening ear to families, and a shoulder to cry on, and a mediator during a conflict with a focus on the children.

Leona Smith, of The RISE Trust, said: "The RISE Trust depends on our amazing volunteers to support our service delivery. We could not do all that we do without them.

"The Civic Awards provides an excellent opportunity for us to celebrate and showcase individuals every year. We nominate those that have dedicated their time in recognition of the positive impact they can have on the families we are involved with.

"Tracey has been committed to being a RISE volunteer for 10 years and has recently become an employee! Her RISE experience has provided insight into how we function, enabling her to adapt quickly to the role. We are very lucky to have her onboard!"

Tracey Smith added: "I am humbled and honoured to receive this award. Volunteering with The RISE has been a pleasure and I feel truly privileged to be a part of something (contact centre) that is so worthwhile.

"It's good to see the children thrive through contact with their parent and families make progress to enable them to move on to contact in the community."